Who Are You?
Rabbi Daniel Leeman
We will soon read the Purim story of how “Mordechai the Jew” outsmarted the evil Haman and his cronies, descendants of the evil Amalek. The prefix “the” often indicates something special, and if so what makes “Mordechai THE Jew” any more Jewish than the rest of us?
Miriam had no strength left. The end of the war was imminent and bombs were falling in the distance. The prisoners were being prepared for their final destination when suddenly an explosion shook the camp. Everyone fled in all directions, prisoners and soldiers alike, but Miriam had no strength to move. Suddenly a soldier on horseback galloped wildly towards her. He stopped just a few feet before her pulled out his gun and demanded “who are you?”
From the deep hollow recesses of her deadened soul, mustering all of her strength she answered proudly “Ich bin a Yid – I am a Jew!”
The soldier jumped off his horse, put his gun back in his holster and whispered “I am also a Jew.”
The Russian soldier was part of the liberating army. He took Miriam, to a field hospital. A few months later Miriam regained her strength and married her liberator! They moved to Israel and founded a true Jewish home.
[From: Stories that Light Up Your Heart, by R’Binyomin Pruzansky, p.243]
Mordechai lost everything: he lost his wife; he lost his honour; he lost his influence; he lost the opportunity to rebuild the Temple. But there was one thing that could never be taken away from him – throughout all his trials and tribulations – his ‘Jewishness’. In that area he refused to tire.
Perhaps that is why it was Mordechai the Jew who saved us from the evil Amalekites. Amalek only attacked the tired, [Devarim 25:18] who ‘forgot’ about their Jewishness – he simply did not have enough power to attack those who would not give up.
So long as we remember our ‘Jewishness’, we will be saved, and merit with the help of Heaven to witness the ultimate redemption, speedily in our days.
Have a Jewish Shabbos,
Dan.
Shabbat Shalom
